This Thursday May 30th on SuicideGirls Radio hosts Nicole Powers and Juturna Suicide will be joined in studio by rock supergroup Heaven & Earth. When we saw them play live recently at the record release party for their new album Dig they blew us away, so we’re thrilled that they’ve agreed to play a very special acoustic set for us. This is a show you won’t want to miss. Prepare to have your world seriously rocked!
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You can listen – and watch – the world’s leading naked radio show live on Thursday nights from 6 til 8 PM at our new state-of-the-art all digital home: TradioV.com/LA.

We killed the bill dead. So dead that when members of Congress propose something that even touches the Internet, they give a long speech beforehand about how it is definitely not at all like SOPA. So dead that when you ask Congressional staffers about it, they groan and shake their heads, like it’s all a bad dream they’re trying hard to forget. So dead, that it’s hard to believe this story. Hard to remember how close it all came to actually passing. Hard to remember how it could have been any other way.

But it wasn’t a dream, or a nightmare. It was all very real. And it will happen again. Sure, it will have a different name, and maybe a different excuse, and probably do its damage in a different way. But make no mistake. The enemies of the freedom to connect have not disappeared. The fire in those politicians’ eyes has not been put out.

There are a lot of powerful people who want to clamp down on the Internet. And, to be honest, there aren’t a whole lot who have a vested interest in protecting it. Even some of the biggest Internet companies, to put it frankly, would benefit from a world in which their little competitors could be censored.

We can’t let that happen.

– Aaron Swartz, Hacking Politics

Hacking Politics is a newly released book that chronicles the extraordinary fight against SOPA (Stop Online Piracy Act) and PIPA (Protect IP Act), which culminated in the unprecedented Internet Blackout of January 18th, 2012.

Edited by David Segal and David Moon of Demand Progress, and Patrick Ruffini of Engage and Don’t Censor the Net, the book features essays from those who were on the frontlines of the battle against these draconian pieces of legislation that threatened not only online liberty but the very fabric of the web.

Included in the book are first-hand accounts from Lawrence Lessig (of Harvard Law School), Cory Doctorow (author and editor of BoingBoing), Rep. Zoe Lofgren (a Democratic Congress member since 1995), Mike Masnick (CEO and founder of Techdirt), Kim Dotcom (founder of Megaupload and Mega), Alexis Ohanian (co-founder of Reddit), and Derek Slater ( a Policy Manager on Google’s public policy team), among others. The book also includes two chapters by SG Editor Nicole Powers: an account of SuicideGirls’ involvement in the online protests, and an interview with Julie O’Dwyer, the mother of Richard O’Dwyer, the British student who faced extradition to the US on charges related to copyright infringement. Poignantly, the book also contains essays penned by online activist and Demand Progress co-founder Aaron Swartz, who committed suicide earlier this year after being charged with offenses under the outdated and overbroad CFAA (Computer Fraud and Abuse Act).

Though Swartz couldn’t see a way through his own fight, he and an unlikely coalition of left-leaning progressives, right-leaning tea partiers, non-partisan occupiers, blue chip corporations, underground activists, mainstream press outlets and fringe techno radicals successfully fought the Goliath RIAA and MPAA-funded political machine to defeat PIPA and SOPA.

Hacking Politics was put together to ensure that this epic battle is never forgotten, and to provide a greater understanding of the delicate and extensive behind-the-scenes negotiations that are required to mount such a successful grassroots campaign. Though seemingly spontaneous, the fight against PIPA and SOPA was far from unplanned. Hopefully Hacking Politics will provide not only the blueprint, but the inspiration for similar future online offensives against the onslaught of SOPA and PIPA-like legislation that threatens the freedom of the internet.

Hacking Politics: How Geeks, Progressives, the Tea Party, Gamers, Anarchists and Suits Teamed Up to Defeat SOPA and Save the Internet is available in paperback and as an eBook. For a limited time the eBook edition is available as a pay-what-you-wish download.

Toronto Mayor Rob Ford says to media, May 24, “I do not use crack cocaine.”

He says, “Nor am I an addict of crack cocaine.”

He says, “I cannot comment on a video that I have never seen or does not exist.”

He chalks it up to being judged by the media without any evidence. He calls it nonsense, a comment not far removed from the last time he addressed allegations against him, eight days ago now, when he called it ridiculous.

Eight days now into the “Holy God, the Mayor of Toronto clearly smokes crack because three folks say they seen video of it, seen it real good” scandal, yet there is still no video we can watch.

Neither party obtained a copy of said video to show you, mind you. But that didn’t stop them from writing it up, hoping no one would ask for… you know… proof.

Eight days later, stuff’s happened — is happening.

None of said stuff is the alleged video surfacing.

Most of said stuff amounts to one large, lit sign we’re probably not going to see a video. Ever.

Gawker’s efforts to get its hands on the alleged video involve a crowdfunding campaign it calls a crackstarter — which currently stands around $25K shy of the $200K they claim the shady Somali drug dealers in possession of the alleged video are demanding.

“The last time we established contact with the people who are in possession of the video was this past Sunday, and we have not been able to reach them since.

“As we mentioned when we launched the campaign, folks who are involved in the crack trade tend not to be the most reliable people in the world. This has proven to be the case when it comes to the owner of the video of Rob Ford smoking crack cocaine.”

So who bet on, “Deal with dealers proves problematic” as the most likely possible outcome? Anybody?

It’s either that or the crackstarter hits its goal, and someone gets on a plane with $200K to be delivered to shady Somali drug dealers, and I’m not quite sure why it would be figured — by anyone, like, ever — that could possibly work out for the better.

The “this past Sunday” Cook spoke of was seven days ago now, by the way. The video — if there is a video — is likely gone, because the person trying to unload it probably wanted to do so before it became monologue-fodder for late-night television comedians.

Gawker and the Star blew their loads much too early and much too loudly.

And if this is all real and is indeed a thing, well, exactly how many crack dealers do we figure a person has? Just saying.

There is no one who wants to be that guy right now. Least of all that guy.

None of this is to say that even without proof this video exists there hasn’t been damage done. There has.

Ford told at least one lie at that press conference, May 24.

Everyone figures it was, “I do not use crack cocaine nor am I an addict of crack cocaine.”

And… you know… maybe.

But the one we know for sure is, “It’s business as usual at city hall.”

It’s not.

Ford has been a ghost this past week, leaving others to cover in his absence.

He was fired as volunteer football coach for Don Brosco Catholic high and he fired his chief of staff Mark Towhey in some form of fit — media outlets say it’s because Towhey tried to make him go to rehab and he said… well, you know.

Half of his council is screaming for his head. The other half is concerned where his head is at.

And coverage of news that cannot be proven to be news continues.

Professional spectator and deadline artist, D.S. Wood (@maddesperado) is a Canuck journalist and, on occasion, also a writer of Other Things.

WHY DO YOU LOVE IT?: I love it because since last year I’ve been working really hard to get a healthy lifestyle. I started to eat really good and have been exercising, and since January of this year I’ve started to workout really hard to achieve my goal. In this specific group, I find a lot of advice and tips on healthy food and workouts that are very helpful to me at this time of my life. It’s like a bible!

MOST HEATED DISCUSSION THREAD: I there’s not a heated discussion thread, but a thread that is really loved for many people is “Anyone up for a challenge?” A lot of people post there every day so you can see how people approach their goals, and how the other members encourage them to achieve them. It’s amazing!

BEST RANDOM QUOTE: “’I wanna be this and I wanna be that’ – WELL THEN GRAB FUCKING NUTS AND BE IT!!”

WHO’S WELCOME TO JOIN?: Every single person who is interested in achieving their physical and mental goals and/or are interested in maintaining a healthy lifestyle.

What if you were diagnosed with a sexually transmitted disease and only had six-months to live? What would you do? Would you quit your job? Would you tell the people in your life that matter the most exactly what they meant to you? Would you travel the world? Would you just crawl into a hole and wait to die?

Being handed a death sentence is nothing anyone can fathom until it’s happened to them, but those questions are answered through a new comic, Death Sentence by Montynero and Mike Dowling – see trailer:

As the tagline reads: “The virus is going to enhance you and then kill you. There is no cure.” Verity Flett was one of the unfortunate souls diagnosed with the debilitating disease known only as the G+ virus, and her story along with several others will play out on the pages of Death Sentence. She was kind enough to speak with us about her role in this new ongoing saga:

Damon Martin: As you understand it, what exactly is the G+ virus?

Verity Flett: It’s an STD that enhances your abilities – but kills you in six months. I’ve got it worse than most and I’m trying to find out why.

DM: There are no words that can describe what it’s like to literally be told you only have months to live, but if you were to tell us what went through your mind on that day what was happening?

VF: Disbelief. Numbness. Fear. Then I got angry. You look at all the other fuckers wasting their time – cheating and lying – and you think…why me? What did I do?!! But fuck it, six months is six months. I’m not done yet.

DM: I haven’t seen someone walk out of their job in a more epic way this side of Kevin Spacey in American Beauty. You certainly left yours in an interesting way. Any regrets?

VF: Fuck regrets! Are you high?! Dude’s lucky I didn’t knock him out!

DM: With time running out, was there any one thing you wanted to do or accomplish?

VF: I wanna paint. I always figured there’d be time, but…shit kept happening! And there’s someone I’d like to see. Make things right, if I can.

DM: What can you tell us about what happened at the Royal London Hospital?

VF: Man…those poor people! If I could go back, I would. But it wasn’t me who instigated that shit! One second we’re chatting and the next they’re all on me with handcuffs and a needle. What the fuck would you do? I felt all this heat, all these frequencies on my skin – and I rejected the lot. Threw it right back out. I don’t have a fuckin’ clue how it happened it and I hope to god there’s no repeat.

DM: If you had one message for all the other people out there with the G+ virus what would it be?

VF: Run.

To read Verity’s story and about the rest of those infected, check out Death Sentence #1, hitting stores on October 9, 2013. The series will also be available to read on the iPad, iPhone, Web, Android and Kindle Fire, exclusively through the comiXology app and comiXology.com. For more information follow @comicstitan.

In the story, John Cook writes about flying to Toronto to hang out with shady Somali drug dealers who showed him cell-phone-shot video footage of, apparently, Rob Ford huffing on a crack pipe. Cook did not return with the video, but said shady types wanted six figures for it.

So he wrote about what he saw. He doesn’t say it could be Ford in this video he cannot produce, instead he asserts it categorically is:

“The man in the video is Rob Ford. It is well-lit, clear. Ford is seated, in a room in a house. In one hand is a clear, glass pipe. The kind with a big globe and two glass cylinders sticking out of it. In the other hand is a lighter. A slurred voice off-camera is ranting about Canadian politics in what sounds like an attempt to goad Ford.

“‘Pierre Trudeau was a faggot!’ is the one phrase the lodges in my mind. Ford, pipe in one hand and lighter in the other, is laughing, and mildly protesting at the sacrilege. He seems to keep trying to light the pipe, but keeps stopping to laugh. He is red-faced and sweaty, heaving with each breath.

“Finally, he finds his moment and lights up. He inhales.”

Later late May 16, the Toronto Star posts breaking news, reporting Gawker reported the story.

Later still, late May 16, the Star posts new breaking news, stating two of their reporters — Kevin Donovan and Robyn Doolittle — have seen the video. Two and a half weeks earlier, in fact.

They don’t have the video either.

So they write about what they saw. They play the accusation a little safer. It could be Ford, sure looks like him:

“It appears to show Ford in a room, sitting in a chair, wearing a white shirt, top buttons open, inhaling from what appears to be a glass crack pipe. Ford is incoherent, trading jibes with an off-camera speaker who goads the clearly impaired mayor by raising topics including Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau and the Don Bosco high school football team Ford coaches…

“…Throughout the video Ford’s eyes are half-closed. He lolls back in his chair, sometimes waving his arms around erratically. He raises a lighter in his hand at several points and moves it in a circle motion beneath the glass bowl of the pipe, then inhales deeply.

“The reporters were allowed to watch and listen to the video three times. After, both reporters separately made written notes of what they saw and heard. Both reporters, prior to watching the video, studied numerous city-hall-related videos of Ford and, to the best of the reporter’s abilities, they separately concluded the man in the video was Ford.”

To recap:

Gawker basically runs with “Can’t prove it but he done it — I seen it!”

Meanwhile, the Star basically retorts: “Samesies. But first!”

Later than later still, late May 16, folks from Gawker and the Star and concerned Pajama People on behalf of both argue who should or shouldn’t be calling the story exclusive — basically, who saw harder this thing neither party can produce.

Also. They agree to disagree on which Trudeau “is a faggot.”

The Star went ahead and ran it front page, morning of May 17. A story about a video they do not have.

Then ran react stories all day May 17, asking important folks what they think about a video they haven’t seen.

End of day, the Star’s website has an entire section dedicated to its dozens of stories about this video scandal they can’t prove.

Given the Star’s folks claim they saw the video May 3 and Gawker’s guy says he started his hunt a week and a half later it seems likely the Star was sitting on it until proof they could present presented itself.

When someone else suddenly made the story public it seems likely they panicked and unloaded what they had.

Other news outlets play chase, writing about the video they not only don’t have, but also haven’t seen.

Meanwhile, Gawker is trying to crowdfund six figures to buy the video. They call it a crackstarter.

Pride in journalism.

It’s not that I do not believe there’s a video of Rob Ford smoking crack — it strikes me as entirely plausible there’s a video of Rob Ford smoking crack.

Oh, to be the man to top the Toronto mayor who used his mayoral might to declare war on the weather, hung out with biker gangs for photo ops and once expressed to reporters his fear Kenyans would turn him into soup.

(Note: See Mad Mel Lastman)

Ford is that man. That silly, silly and well-documented man. And writing it’s because he might be a crackhead and calling it news is not much different than writing about snow in winter and calling it news.

No, it’s not that. We do that.

It’s that professional media outlets are now the better bit of a week in, reporting the video exists without the ability to prove the video exists. Yeah, it’s relevant, and on Day One, sure, I will take a person entrusted with the truth at their word. Day Three or Day Six or Day Nine? I’ll need a little more than pinky swears.

The further removed from Day One we become, still having no video, the less credible the people claiming there is a video seem.

The Star knew that — I would assume that’s why they were sitting on the story until Gawker threw down.

They wanted the video. Or something that proves the existence of the video.

Because there needs to be a video.

Otherwise it’s shoddy journalism — there’s little point pulling the trigger before the gun’s loaded. Reporters ask Ford for comment first thing, May 17. Ford calls the story “ridiculous,” says it is just the Star attacking him, as is their rep to do, gets into his car and is gone.

That’s all he has to do, because there is no video — not one that matters.

The only video that matters is the one that can be produced, and that video does not yet exist — it might never exist.

Unless, of course, Gawker’s crackstarter hits $200K.

And then, then all of those dollars have to be delivered to shady Somali drug dealers and I’m sure that’ll go smashingly well and we’ll see a video of Toronto’s Mayor Rob Ford smoking crack straight away.

Professional spectator and deadline artist, D.S. Wood (@maddesperado) is a Canuck journalist and, on occasion, also a writer of Other Things.

This Thursday May 23rd on SuicideGirls Radio our special guest is the gorgeous and super talented singer, songwriter, DJ and producer, Charissa Saverio, a.k.a. DJ Rap. She’ll be joined in studio by hilarious guest host Jessica Sattelberger, who is making her mark on LA’s standup circuit and currently co-hosts Dave Navarro’s Dark Matter show on Playboy Radio. The lovely Juturna Suicide, who has just returned from a wild and wicked Vegas trip, will occupying the co-host chair.

You can listen – and watch – the world’s leading naked radio show live on Thursday nights from 6 til 8 PM at our new state-of-the-art all digital home: TradioV.com/LA.

If you have questions for the SG Radio crew or our guests, you can call in during the live broadcast at: 1-855-TRV-inLA (1-855-878-4652)

For updates on all things SG Radio-related, like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.

About DJ Rap
Charissa Saverio, a.k.a. DJ Rap, has been the undisputed queen of the turntables and voted the number one female DJ in the world! DJ Rap has infiltrated the music industry with her arsenal of talent. She has established herself as the CEO of her labels: Propa and Impropa Talent, and developed her creative direction as a full-fledged producer. She is also a classically trained pianist and songwriter, amongst many other talents. Rap has dominated such genres as house and drum & bass. However, her love for music has taken her through many reflections of genres and musical experiences. Ultimately, millions in a global capacity have embraced her and her music. Over the course of DJ Rap’s career she has collaborated and worked with many talented and influential professionals. Such talents consist of BT, Eric Morrillo, Hans Zimmer, Hybid, and DJ Tydi, to name just a few. Rap has produced music for Playstation, Wii, and seven major motion pictures.

Iron Man 3 has already grossed over a billion dollars. Pulling in roughly $285 million here in the states, it’s overseas that Iron Man 3 has been a real hit. International sales have passed $664 million dollars. Iron Man premiered a week early overseas, and it played in 79% of the foreign markets. In its first weekend internationally, it grossed over $198 million, beating the Avengers record. Domestically, Iron Man had the second biggest opening weekend ever bringing in $174 million, behind the Avengers ($204 million). But, despite the massive numbers, Iron Man 3 has been met with incredibly mixed reviews.

Marvel and Disney are raking in a fortune with these superhero movies, and now the heroes want a bigger piece of the pie. Iron Man actor, Robert Downey Jr. is currently renegotiating with Disney. He’s not the only actor wanting a larger pay day, many of the Avengers actors are seeking to renegotiate before signing on for Avengers 2. While the cast is seeking more money from the movies, director Joss Whedon has posted a blog on his site to correct some misinformation about his own payday for the Avengers.

I was going to let it slide, but I’ve got this sour taste in my mouth. (Mmmm, lemonade!). Some facts are not facts. I’m not going to go into the whole thing, but jeepers, I’m not getting $100 mil on Avengers 2. If I were, I would come on this site and laugh and laugh and laugh. I’m not making Downey money. I’m making A LOT, which is exciting. I’m not pretending to be a poor farmer, an Everyman, an ANYman. But that number is nuts. A few other things about me that have been “reported” that people should take with a grain of salt:

That I throw wild Hollywood parties where everyone is naked and dancing and wild and I remember to serve enough snacks.

That I can get a movie greenlit by sighing and staring into the middle distance.

That I ate a unicorn and made it winter for three years.

That I “can write.”

Well, that’s a load off. Sorry to get so personal — the whole thing’s a bit tawdry. But honestly, it bugged me. I’m off for a nice juicy steak. There’s a place downtown that does it with rosemary butter, it tastes just like unico — like a steak.

BYE-ee! J.

Avengers 2 might be having some negotiating trouble with old members, but Marvel’s plans moving forward also include a new lineup. Rumor is that Whedon is seeking to write the Scarlet Witch and her twin brother Quicksilver in to Avengers 2, and there are whispers that Marvel is looking to cast Saoirse Ronan in the role of Scarlet Witch. Whether Saoirse gets the part or not, the helps to give us an idea of the kind of actress they have in mind.

A new trailer for Thor: The Dark World has been released as Marvel moves forward with their ‘Phase 2’. Thor 2 premiers in November of this year. Captain America is the next movie up after Thor, and Captain America will be joined by some classic heroes for the journey. Anthony Mackie will be playing the Falcon and is set to be in more than half the movie. Robert Redford will also be filling a major role as S.H.I.E.L.D. Agent Alexander Pierce. The most exciting rumor of Marvel’s casting during ‘Phase 2’ however, is that the tenth Doctor Who, David Tennant may be cast as the gun blazing master tactician Rocket Raccoon.

As Doctor Who moves toward their 50th Anniversary, a new executive producer has been found for the show. Brian Minchin, who has worked in the past on the UK Torchwood, will be taking the role of executive producer, working alongside show frontrunner Steven Moffat.

Ender’s Game is moving into theaters on the first of November this year. The first full length trailer for the movie has been released and is appropriately narrated by Harrison Ford. The film was directed by Gavin Hood and stars Asa Butterfield as the title character, Ender.

Comedy Central has a new late night talk show starring the Nerdists’ Chris Hardwick. The show is being co-produced by Funny or Die and will be filling the air slot immediately after The Colbert Report.